Device having a flushing apparatus and a lavatory body, assembly kit for assembling such a device and method for assembling the said device

ABSTRACT

The device has a flushing apparatus and a lavatory body ( 21 ), which possesses an inflow for flushing water and an outflow and which is connected to the flushing apparatus ( 1 ). In an installation wall ( 4 ) there is mounted a douche unit ( 15 ), which possesses a douche arm ( 17 ) inserted in an aperture ( 19 ) in the lavatory body ( 21 ). Located above the lavatory body ( 21 ) in the installation wall ( 4 ) is an inspection opening ( 23 ), which is provided for the inspection, in particular, of the douche unit ( 15 ) and is covered with a removable plate ( 24 ).

The invention relates to a device having a flushing apparatus and a lavatory body, which has an inflow for flushing water and an outflow and which is connected to the flushing apparatus, comprising a douche unit having a douche arm, as well as an operating device for the douche unit, and also comprising an installation wall to which the lavatory body is fastened.

A device of this type has become known in the prior art from EP 1 317 586 B1. In this, the toilet body possesses on the rear side in a back part a chamber in which the douche unit is fitted. This douche unit has in a housing a drive mechanism, with which the douche arm can be moved. The douche unit can also, for example, have a hair dryer. In addition, in the side of the lavatory body there is disposed the actuating apparatus for actuating the douche unit. With its rear side, the lavatory body forms an interface to an assembly element to which the lavatory body is fastened. In the assembly element are mounted a concealed cistern having a flush pipe and a drain pipe.

From DE-A-1 759 098, a so-called “complete WC” is also known, in which the lavatory bowl forms with a supporting frame a single unit. The lavatory bowl possesses a flange encircling an upper rim, which flange is supported on an extension arm of the supporting frame. A rear wall of the lavatory bowl has an opening for the blowing in of warm air and a further opening for the fitting of a nozzle pipe for the delivery of douche water. This device has the drawback that the lavatory body has to be produced in a relatively complex design and differs significantly from standard lavatory bodies without bidet.

In practice, these devices have become well proven. The inventor has nevertheless set himself the task of providing a device of the said type which can be produced more easily and more cost-effectively.

The object is achieved according to Claim 1, in a device of the generic type, by mounting the douche unit in an installation wall. The installation wall can here be a building wall, an assembly element purely and simply, a supporting frame with assembly elements, as well as a front wall with assembly elements. The invention has the advantage that the lavatory body, which is generally made of ceramic, is easier to produce. The previous relatively large chamber for receiving the douche unit is no longer necessary. Now a relatively small passage in the lavatory body is sufficient to receive the douche arm. Since only the said passage is necessary and the douche unit is not mounted in the lavatory body, a substantially greater freedom of design exists with respect to the shaping. The ceramic manufacturer, in particular, has more scope than previously with respect to the design.

The lavatory body can be produced yet more easily if, according to one refinement of the invention, the operating device is likewise mounted in the installation wall. According to one refinement of the invention, further functional elements, too, e.g. a boiler or an odour extractor, are additionally fitted in the installation wall. The lavatory body then differs from a standard lavatory body only by virtue of the said opening for the reception of the douche arm.

According to one refinement of the invention, the installation wall possesses a frame on which the douche unit is mounted. For example, the douche unit can be placed on, for example latched onto or screwed onto, a transverse member of the frame.

According to one refinement of the invention, the douche unit is installed in the installation wall as a prefabricated element. The douche unit preferably forms an assembly unit, which is inserted into the said installation wall following its completion. The installation wall can, for example, have a front-side opening, located, for example, in a cover. The assembly unit can then be inserted into this opening.

According to one refinement of the invention, an inspection opening is provided, which is covered by a plate. In this plate, according to one refinement of the invention, an actuating element, for example a button for actuating the douche unit, is mounted. The inspection opening, or the said plate, is preferably located directly above the lavatory body. Above this inspection opening there is preferably located a further inspection opening for the cistern.

The invention additionally relates to an assembly kit for the assembly of a said device. This comprises at least an installation wall, a lavatory body fastened to the installation wall, a flushing apparatus, a douche unit with a douche arm, an operating device for operating the douche unit, and a mounting means, disposed in the installation wall, for mounting of the douche unit in the installation wall. According to one refinement of the invention, the assembly kit possesses further elements or functional elements which can be mounted in the installation wall.

The invention additionally relates to a method for assembling a device of the said type, in particular with an assembly kit according to Claim 18.

Further advantageous features emerge from the dependent patent claims, the following description and the drawing.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a view of a device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a vertical section through the device according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows in schematic representation the introduction of a douche unit into the installation wall,

FIG. 4 shows in schematic representation a view of the frame of an installation wall, and

FIG. 5 shows a view of a finished installation wall with inserted douche unit.

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, the device is a WC toilet having a lavatory body 21, which is fastened to an installation wall 5 and is connected to a flush pipe 10 and a drain pipe 11. With a cistern 12, the lavatory body 21 can be flushed in the usual manner via the flush pipe 10. The cistern 12 is here a concealed cistern, to which the flush pipe 10 is connected. In place of the concealed cistern 12, a different flushing apparatus, for example a surface-mounted cistern or some other suitable flushing water source, can also however be used. The flush is triggered by pressing a button 22 of an actuating plate 13 which is disposed in front of an inspection opening of the cistern 12. However, other types of flush triggering, for example including touch-free flush triggerings, are also conceivable here.

For the fastening of the lavatory body 21, the installation wall 4 has, according to FIG. 4, a mounting frame 5, which has two vertical profiles 6 and at least two transverse members 7 and 8 connecting these. To the profiles 6, there is additionally attached a mounting plate 9 or some other suitable assembly element, to which the lavatory body 21 is fastened by threaded rods (not shown here). The flush pipe 10 can be fastened to the transverse member 7 and to the mounting plate 9, and the drain pipe 11 can be fastened to the transverse member 8. The installation wall 4 is supported on a building floor 2 and a building wall 3. With a cover 14, the installation wall 5 is covered at the front, at the sides and on top. This cover 14 can be made, for example, of plasterboards, tiles and the like.

On the installation wall 5 there is mounted a douche unit 15, which, according to FIG. 2, has a douche arm 17, which engages in an aperture 19 in the lavatory body 21. The douche unit 15 forms a bidet. The douche arm 17 can be telescopically extensible in a manner which is known per se, or otherwise movable. An embodiment is also conceivable, however, in which the douche arm 17 is configured immovably or as a flexible hose. Such a douche unit 15 is known, for example, from EP 1 317 586 B. However, the douche unit according to this publication is located fully within a chamber of the lavatory body. In the case of the device 1, however, this douche unit 15 is mounted in the installation wall 5 and thus independently of the lavatory body 21. In the shown embodiment, the mounting frame 5 is intended for so-called preassembly. The mounting frame 5 could be realized in dry construction as an in-wall installation. The mounting plate 9 could additionally also be embedded in the wall, as this is provided for in the known “Kombifix” assembly system of the Applicant. Also possible would be an installation wall made up of assembly elements according to the “Duofix system” of the Applicant.

The douche unit 15 comprises at least a housing (not represented in detail here), the said douche arm 17, and a connection (not shown here) to a water pipe. A duct running in the housing connects this water pipe to the douche arm 17. The douche unit 15 can further contain a drive mechanism, as is disclosed in EP 1 317 586 B. Further possible functional elements which can be integrated in the douche unit 15 are a hair dryer and a control system. The aperture 19 can lead through the flushing duct 26 indicated in FIG. 2. In principle, this aperture 19 can also, however, open out beneath the flushing duct 26 into the lavatory body 21. The aperture 19 extends from the rear side 27 (FIG. 3) of the lavatory body 21 as far as the inner side of the lavatory body 21. The aperture 19 can be produced with relatively small diameter as a single duct. The lavatory body 21, which is made, in particular, of ceramic, therefore differs from a standard lavatory body without bidet only by virtue of this single aperture 19.

According to FIGS. 2 and 3, the douche unit 15 is inserted in the installation wall 4 through an opening 16 in the cover 14. In FIG. 3, the arrow 18 shows the direction in which the douche unit 15 is inserted. The douche unit 15 can be fastened, for example, to the mounting plate 9 and/or to the transverse member 7. The connection can be a latch connection or a screw connection, for example. Preferably, this connection is releasable. For the reception of the douche unit 15, the mounting plate 9 can have, according to FIG. 5, a corresponding cutout 20.

The douche unit 15 mounted in the installation wall 4 is connected to a water pipe, for example to a conduit of a boiler. The corresponding connection is here preferably configured as a plug-type connection. This likewise applies to any further electrical connection and also to a connection of a control line to a control system. Preferably, these are likewise of plug-type configuration. If the douche unit 15 is thus introduced into the installation wall 4 in the direction of the arrow 18, according to FIG. 3, then these connections are joined and the connection or fastening is preferably created at the same time. In the installation wall 4 or in the mounting frame 5, corresponding functional elements (not shown here), for example a boiler, an odour extractor, as well as a control system, can be mounted, which can be appropriately connected to the douche unit 15. In principle, however, an odour extractor could also be operated independently of the douche unit 15.

The douche unit 15 is actuated from the actuating apparatus 25 shown in FIG. 1. The operating apparatus 25 possesses a button, for example, which is pressed. A touch-free triggering is conceivable. Further elements, too, for example for adjusting the water temperature and the like, can also be provided here. The operating apparatus 25, or the said button, is mounted in a plate 24, which covers the inspection opening 23 located behind the plate 24. The plate 24 is removably mounted. Following the removal of the plate 24, the douche unit 15 and, where appropriate, also further functional elements mounted in the installation wall 4, is/are accessible for an inspection. According to FIG. 4, the plate 24 is preferably located directly above the lavatory body 21.

The assembly procedure is explained in greater detail below.

Firstly, the installation wall 4 is fastened to the building floor 2 and to the building wall 3 in a manner which is known per se. The cistern 12, the flush pipe 10 and the drain pipe 11 can in this case be pre-assembled. This applies also to further functional elements, for example an odour extractor, a boiler and, where appropriate, a control system. Next, the mounting frame 5 is covered with the cover 14. Where necessary, tiles or the like can be applied. The opening 16 and the inspection opening 23 of the cistern 12 are here covered with a construction protection element. Following the completion of the installation wall 4, the said construction protection elements are removed and the douche unit 15, the actuating plate 13 and the plate 24 are fitted. The douche unit 15 thus here forms a prefabricated element. Finally, the lavatory body 21 is fastened to the installation wall 4, whereupon the douche arm 17 is introduced into the aperture 19. The connections of the lavatory body 21 to the flush pipe 10 and to the drain pipe 11 are preferably likewise plug-type connections. The assembly of the device 1 can thus be realized with comparatively simple assembly steps and in less time than previously. In place of the front-wall installation which is mentioned here, an in-wall installation, as already mentioned above, is also possible. Finally, the douche unit 15 could be pre-mounted in the mounting frame 5, for example on the plate 9, which would simplify the assembly still further.

Reference Symbol List

-   1 device -   2 building floor -   3 building wall -   4 installation wall -   5 mounting frame -   6 profile -   7 transverse member -   8 transverse member -   9 mounting plate -   10 flush pipe -   11 drain pipe -   12 cistern -   13 actuating plate -   14 cover -   15 douche unit -   16 opening -   17 douche arm -   18 arrow -   19 aperture -   20 cutout -   21 lavatory body -   22 button -   23 inspection opening -   24 plate -   25 operating apparatus -   26 flushing duct -   27 rear side 

1.-26. (canceled)
 27. Device having a flushing apparatus and a lavatory body, which has an inflow for flushing water and an outflow and which is connected to the flushing apparatus, comprising a douche unit having a douche arm, as well as an operating device for the douche unit, and also comprising an installation wall to which the lavatory body is fastened, wherein the douche unit is mounted in the installation wall.
 28. Device according to claim 27, wherein the operating device is likewise mounted in the installation wall.
 29. Device according to claim 27, wherein the douche unit has at least a drive mechanism for the douche arm, as well as a control system.
 30. Device according to claim 27, wherein the douche unit has a housing by which the douche unit is mounted in the installation wall.
 31. Device according to claim 27, wherein the installation wall has a frame on which the douche unit is mounted.
 32. Device according to claim 27, characterized in that the douche unit is installed in the installation wall as a prefabricated element.
 33. Device according to claim 32, wherein the douche unit is inserted in the installation wall through an opening in a cover.
 34. Device according to claim 27, wherein the douche unit has pluggable means for connecting the douche unit to functional elements mounted in the installation wall.
 35. Device according to claim 34, wherein as functional elements, a water connection and, in particular, a connection to a boiler and/or a current source are provided.
 36. Device according to claim 27, wherein in the installation wall there is disposed an inspection opening for the inspection of the douche unit.
 37. Device according to claim 36, wherein the inspection opening is covered with a removable cover plate.
 38. Device according to claim 27, wherein the operating apparatus for the bidet is disposed on the installation wall above the lavatory body.
 39. Device according to claim 37, wherein the operating apparatus is disposed in the cover plate.
 40. Device according to claim 27, wherein the douche unit is a separate installable and removable assembly unit.
 41. Device according to claim 27, wherein at least a boiler and/or an odour extractor and/or a control device are disposed in the installation wall.
 42. Device according to claim 27, wherein the lavatory body has on the rear side an aperture, into or through which the douche arm projects.
 43. Device according to claim 27, wherein the flushing apparatus has a concealed cistern mounted in the installation wall.
 44. Assembly kit for fitting a device according to claim 27, comprising at least: an installation wall a lavatory body fastenable to the installation wall a flushing apparatus a douche unit having a douche arm an operating apparatus for operating the douche unit, and a mounting means disposed in the installation wall, for the mounting of the douche unit.
 45. Assembly kit according to claim 44, wherein it further has at least the following elements mountable in the installation wall: an odour extractor and/or a boiler and/or a hair dryer and/or a control apparatus.
 46. Assembly kit according to claim 44, wherein the douche unit is a separate unit, which can be plugged into the installation wall.
 47. Assembly kit according to claim 44, wherein the douche unit can be plugged into the installation wall.
 48. Method for assembling a device according to claim 27, wherein the installation wall is mounted, the douche unit is inserted in the installation wall and is connected at least to a water pipe, and in that the lavatory body is fastened to the installation wall, whereupon the douche arm is introduced into an aperture in the lavatory body.
 49. Method according to claim 48, wherein the douche unit is connected to at least one functional element mounted in the installation wall.
 50. Method according to claim 47, wherein the douche unit is installed in the installation wall as a prefabricated part.
 51. Method according to claim 50, wherein the douche unit is installed through an opening in a cover.
 52. Method according to claim 48, wherein the douche unit is preassembled in the installation wall. 